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Girl Dies from New Year's Gunfire, Home Robbed During Hospital Vigil

January 4, 2013

(ELKTON, Md.) — A 10-year-old girl struck in the head by a stray bullet fired during a New Year’s Eve celebration died Thursday morning as her family learned their home was robbed of its Christmas presents as they kept vigil over the little girl in a hospital.

Aaliyah Boyer, 10, from Lancaster County, Penn., was visiting family in Elkton, Md., when just after midnight on New Year’s Eve, while watching fireworks, she was struck by a bullet, said Michael Holmes, a spokesman for the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office.

“The wound in her head was caused by celebratory gunfire,” Holmes told ABC News.

As the girl’s family stayed at her bedside, thieves robbed the family’s Maryland home, stealing Christmas presents, Aaliyah’s mother told ABC News affiliate WPVI-TV. She also warned against scam Facebook accounts that have been set up to raise money off their loss.

Thursday morning the family agreed to donate Aaliyah’s organs, WPVI reported. A 3-year-old girl who was in the same hospital is receiving Aaliyah’s heart. Her lungs and liver were also donated, the station reported.

Police said a homicide investigation is under way in Maryland.

Cops are “searching door to door looking for information as well as searching those homes with known firearms,” Holmes said.